Patriotism saves Bryan Price from ejection

Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price (38) looks back to the dugout in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park on Friday, June 16, 2017.(Photo: Sam Greene)

NEW YORK – Scooter Gennett kept his bat on his shoulder and the pitch zoomed by. Home-plate umpire Shane Livensparger called strike three, and the Cincinnati Reds second baseman was upset. He slammed his helmet on the plate in disgust, and emphatically removed his shin guard. Quickly, he was ejected.

Gennett couldn’t have known it at the time, but he’d set into motion one of the odder on-field arguments in recent history. He was barely involved. Instead, the featured players were Livensparger, Reds manager Bryan Price, crew chief Jerry Layne and America.

As Price does many times when a Reds player is ejected, he quickly exited the dugout to argue in favor of his player. The problem was timing. Gennett’s strikeout had ended the top of the seventh, and the Reds were playing on a Sunday. In ballparks across the country, that’s when the normal progression of the game is halted for the playing of God Bless America.

As the on-field staff at Citi Field prepared to bring out the song’s performer, Price and the two umpires continued their lively discussion at home plate. They had the presence of mind to move out of the way so the performer could take the spotlight, but Price didn’t stop arguing. The song would begin soon. Reds players were transfixed.

“That was the most interested in an argument that I’ve ever been,” said catcher Tucker Barnhart. “I was really anxious to see what was going to happen. ‘Is he going to argue through God Bless America?’”

They did stop. As the song began, Price threw his hands up in frustration at Livensparger, and in nearly the same motion removed his cap placed it over his heart. Layne did the same. Livensparger placed his hand on his heart as well, but then remembered he’d forgotten his hat. He retrieved it.

The spectacle wasn’t quite over for the Reds dugout. The song was going to end at some point. What was going to happen then?

“We were like, ‘This is kind of awkward,’” shortstop Zack Cozart said. “‘They’re going to have to stop their argument. Are they going to go back at it after it’s over with?’”

They did resume, but at a much lower energy level. Price got a few more words in as his dugout waited to see who would play second base. Jose Peraza had been playing center field, but waited for further instructions at the top step with his outfield glove as his teammates took the field. Eventually, rookie Zach Vincej was sent to replace Gennett.

The playing of God Bless America is meant to inspire introspection, and in a sense Price had that experience. The Reds had just come back from down three to tie the game in the previous half-inning. What good would following Gennett out of the game do?

“God Bless America gave me time to realize that was not the time to get ejected,” Price said.

The Reds wound up winning, 10-5. Price thinks he also got one other idea across.

“I believe in honoring the flag,” he said with a smile. “I can tell you that.”